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According to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) over 6 Million animals are euthanized in shelters in this country every year because there are not enough homes for all the new animals being born.

This figure of course does not include the millions that perish from disease, parasites, predators and starvation.

Annually our 10-county area from Walterboro to Savannah euthanizes 25,000 to 30,000 animals a year. If a no-kill shelter were built tomorrow to take them in, it would have to be the state's largest employer.

The Spay-Neuter Alliance and Clinic (SNAC) in Ridgeland provides high quality, low cost spays and neuters to prevent these tragic numbers. Maranatha Farm has donated funds to assist pet owners who cannot afford even the low rates SNAC charges. We urge all pet owners to spay or neuter their pet.

Please - call SNAC today at 645-2500 for an appointment. Do your part to end the needless suffering. Thank you.

To house the 30,000 unwanted LowCountry animals instead of euthanizing them would require a shelter of 6 Million square feet to give each animal 200 sq feet in which to live.

The average Wal-Mart is 185,000 sq ft. This shelter would need to have 138 acres under roof, heated and cooled and drained to at least 4 computer-operated sewage treatment plants.

A Kennel Cleaner can care for up to 40 animals a day, if they spend no more than 10 minutes cleaning each enclosure. 750 to 800 Kennel Cleaners would be required.

Feeding, medical exams and treatment and record-keeping would take at least 30 minutes per day per animal, taking another 2,200 employees.

Management, transportation and food services for the employees, facilities for the volunteers who would provide socialization and adoption services, maintenance of the building and equipment would possibly add another 1,000 employees.

At $10 to $15 per hour it would cost nearly $50,000 per hour in wages just to keep the place open.

These are the things I think about when people call me up looking for a no-kill shelter to take their unwanted animal.

And completely preventable.
As Karen never fails us, education is key.
Spay/neuter is the answer.
Understanding that you bring a family member into your home is essential to prevent that family member from being dumped for killing.
We have met the enemy and he is us.
If each of us spreads the word, like that famous pyramid scheme, we can wake folks up to reality.
I have a friend who rescues. When I tell her what really goes on in Animal Control, she puts her hands over her ears. She doesn't want to hear. But she does her part by fostering and rescuing those horror stories.
It is so hard on the rescuer, having to face the overwhelming numbers, knowing that an appreciable difference has not been made in the big picture. But it is the smaller picture that is important. Every life saved is a life saved. Every litter not born is thousands of animals that will NOT be turned in for euthing at A/C.
Thank you Karen, and I will no doubt be 'plagerizing' your hard work and research, with full credit given, of course.
We CAN do something and we CAN make a difference.
Thank you is so inadequate for all that you do.

Sorry to have pulled out my soapbox on you, SpencerAmber. You are an ardent animal lover so I hope you will forgive my ranting and raving.

It is indeed interesting to see that the top dog in popularity remains the Labrador Retriever, as I believe it has been for a number of years. I just love the "laid-back" ones, and even the "Marley's" are charming.

Yorkshire Terrier is a surprise because you do not see that many of them, at least around here.

For best all-around American family dog I would have to vote for the Beagle.

Karen...I cannot tell you how much I respect and admire you. I only wish I could do 1/4 of what you do for homeless dogs. Your message needs to get out there, so I would never be upset.

As you know, I have two poodles - Spencer being a tea cup and Amber being a toy. I am embarrassed to say that I really never thought much about rescuing dogs and giving a dog a home that really needed one until I met you here.

You have made me aware of this situation and I can assure you that when ny babies go over the bridge I will be adopting a less fortunate pup.

So, keep on keeping on, We never tire of your stories and your message that everyone needs to hear.
__________________________________________________________ Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined. Henry David Thoreau

98% of the world are sheep. The other 2% are divided between sheepdogs and wolves. The wolf and the sheepdog share similarities. Each is driven by instinct. Both kill without remorse. The difference is in their intent. The wolf preys on the flock. The she

98% of the world are sheep. The other 2% are divided between sheepdogs and wolves. The wolf and the sheepdog share similarities. Each is driven by instinct. Both kill without remorse. The difference is in their intent. The wolf preys on the flock. The she

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